Pea proteins from Merit Functional Foods are now GRAS

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Merit Functional Foods announced that it has received a Letter of No Objection from FDA in response to a GRAS (generally recognized as safe) notification for its pea protein ingredients. Merit just launched as a company, debuting at SupplySide West 2019. A joint venture between former executives of Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods and Burcon NutraScience Corporation, Merit is investing in a 88,000 square foot production facility in Winnipeg to produce high quality pea and canola proteins. The facility is scheduled to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2020, and according to the firm will be the only commercial facility in the world with the capability to product food grade canola proteins.

Merit’s product portfolio consists of pea proteins called Peazac and Peazazz, a canola protein line called Puratein, and a proprietary combination of pea and canola protein called MeritPro. The current GRAS “No Objection” letter from FDA refers to Peazac and Peazazz. Its canola protein has been GRAS since August 2010. All of Merit’s products are also clean label, allergen free, gluten free, non-dairy, non-GMO, and vegan.

“We’re thrilled to have received this designation from the FDA, as it is a significant milestone in the introduction of our plant protein ingredients to the industry,” Merit Co-CEO Ryan Bracken said in a press release. “This substantiates the extensive amount of development, research, and review that has been invested in these game-changing ingredients.”